Clinton Salutes Blood and Lives That Won the War / `Freedom's warriors' hailed

Sam Fulwood III, Los Angeles Times

Published 4:00 am, Tuesday, May 9, 1995

1995-05-09 04:00:00 PDT Arlington, Va. -- President Clinton, in V-E Day ceremonies at Arlington Cemetery and nearby Fort Myer yesterday, praised every Allied World War II veteran as "a hero who carried the banner of justice into the battle for freedom."

Clinton offered reverent words for those he called "freedom's warriors" -- whose blood and lives forced Nazi Germany's leaders to surrender in the early morning hours of May 7 in a small schoolhouse in France. The armistice took effect May 8, 1945, setting off street celebrations on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean.

"We come today 50 years later to recall their triumph, to remember their sacrifice and to rededicate ourselves to the ideals for which they fought and for which so many of them died," Clinton said, after being introduced by retired Air Force Colonel Frederick B. McIntosh, who flew 104 missions during the war, including dive- bomb raids on D-Day. "Because of all you did, we live in a moment of hope, in a nation at peace."

Clinton, as commander-in-chief of the U.S. armed forces, began the day of memorials with a stop at the Tomb of the Unknowns in the national military cemetery. To the rumble of a military drum roll and the bursts of a 21-gun salute, Clinton walked stiffly as he placed a large wreath against the white, marble tombs. A bugler played taps and Clinton saluted by placing his right hand over his heart.

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Before speaking at Fort Myer, the president was greeted with a standing ovation by a respectful group of veterans, military officials and active-duty representatives from every branch of the armed services.

ROSTER OF HEROES

He listed the achievements and contributions of many seated in the reviewing stands at Sommerall Field on this Army base outside Washington: Robert Katayama, a private with the Japanese American 442nd Regimental Combat Team, which broke through the Gothic Line in Italy after five months of ferocious assault; Anna Connelly Wilson, a nurse in the Iranian desert; Abben MaGuire, a Navy demolition expert who landed on Omaha Beach; George Ellers, a seaman on Coast Guard boats that protected the movement of supplies across the Atlantic Ocean; Joseph Kahoe, a lieutenant with the all-black 761st tank battalion during the Battle of the Bulge; and finally, the Rev. Francis Sampson, an Army chaplain who parachuted into Normandy and Holland.

"In their bravery and that of all their brothers and sisters in arms, America found the will to defeat the forces of fascism," Clinton said in his 16-minute speech. "And today, we the sons and daughters of their sacrifice, say thank you and well done."

ON THE HOME FRONT

During his remarks, Clinton also acknowledged Americans who did not serve in combat for their "all-consuming effort" toward the Allied victory.

"Millions were heroes here on the home front," he said. "They built the planes, the ships, the tanks, the trucks that carried the Allied armies into battle. They bought victory bonds to pay for the war. They collected scrap metal for weapons, worn-out rubber for tires, leftover fat for explosives, and they planted 20 million victory gardens to help feed the nation."

Clinton also paid special tribute to the peoples of Great Britain and the former Soviet Union.

Clinton -- who after his speech flew to Moscow to participate in Russia's commemoration of V-E day and to hold meetings with Russian President Boris Yeltsin -- also noted the Soviet people's terrible toll of 27 million dead, or one out of eight Soviet citizens.